All of us at Villa La PAWS are enthused and excited about hosting "Operation Home for the Holidays". The intent of this endeavor is to use our existing technology and talents to connect active/deployed military personnel with their families and friends and connect families, whose loved one has paid the ultimate price for our freedom, with other family members and friends. These honored groups will also be able to participate in our free overnight pet services for those that will be traveling to see loved ones during the holidays.

This document will be ever changing as we encounter questions and develop answers, so come back often! If you have any questions that are not covered here, or you need further clarification, please contact Villa La PAWS at 1-888-855-7833 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Who is eligible to participate in the Villa La PAWS "Operation Home for the Holidays"?

This program is focused on:

·   Arizona families that have an active military child, spouse, or parent who cannot make it home because of duty restrictions, or are in a hospital recovering from wounds or sickness that precludes them from coming home for the holidays

·   Arizona families that had a military child, spouse, or parent that has been Killed in Action (KIA) in Operation Iraq Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom

·   Active duty Arizona based military personnel that cannot travel home for the holidays

·   Arizona based National Guard and Reserve military personnel

·   These same families that need pet care services if they are traveling to be with loved ones during the holidays

·   Have another situation?  Let us know, we’ll definitely consider it.

               NOTE: Official military ID is required to participate in "Operation Home for the Holidays"

When does “Operation Home for the Holidays” start and end? 

 The program runs from December 1^st, 2009 – January 2^nd, 2010.

What does “Operation Home for the Holidays” entail?

There are two components to the program:

·    FREE Video/Audio Events held 24/7 between December 1^st - December 23^rd. 

·    FREE Overnight and Daycare Pet Care Services between December 22^nd - January 2^nd.

Where will the Video/Audio Events be held?

We will be hosting all Video/Audio events at:

Villa La PAWS Resort & Spa on Shea

10640 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85028
(northwest corner 32^nd St. & Shea Blvd.)

I read that we MUST agree to the Terms & Conditions on the online registration form in order to participate. Why?

Short answer, LAWYERS!

Another Waiver. You won’t see this until you come to the resort to have your Video/Audio event but everyone attending must sign in and this form also has a Liability Waiver attached to it. Why?

Same short answer, LAWYERS!

Does the armed services know about and sanction "Operation Home for the Holidays"?

How can I volunteer to help with the PAWS "Operation Home for the Holidays" program?

           Thanks for asking! We would love to have you help us greet the military families when they
           arrive for their video/audio appointments while the PAWS team handles the more technical
           aspects. At this time, we do not have a firm schedule and predict it will be on an "as
           needed" basis. Please send us an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your availability
           and contact information and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

In setting up and scheduling these Video/Audio events remember, it’s all about the military serviceperson! We are at THEIR beck and call; we will schedule these events 24/7 at THEIR convenience and availability, not ours. If for some reason, your HERO misses the scheduled event, we will do everything in our power to reschedule it. Again, their time constraints and demands are the utmost in our minds! 

When can these Video/Audio Events be scheduled?

Events will be scheduled 24/7, every 90 minutes, between December 1^st at 1AM – December 23^rd at 12:00AM

How do I schedule my Video/Audio Event?

Simply go online to www.VillaLaPaws.com/holiday and click on the “SCHEDULE YOUR EVENT” link. Everything you need to know will be provided there.

IMPORTANT: You are serving as the liaison between your HERO and Villa La PAWS. Please review the registration form thoroughly and get the requested information from your HERO before making your reservation.

Can I book a couple of event days and times to cover my bases?

To be fair to everyone who wants to participate in the program, we ask you to reserve the one best time for your HERO, family members and friends.

What happens if we have to cancel or reschedule our event?

Contact us immediately at  1-888-855-5833 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so we can release your scheduled session to another family on a waiting list. Then, go online and reschedule your appointment for one of the remaining sessions.

When do we have to arrive for our scheduled event?

Please arrive at Villa La PAWS on Shea 30 minutes prior to your scheduled event time.

How long will the entire process take?

We are anticipating 45 – 90 minutes. The live visit with your Hero… be it video, audio or both… will last for up to 30 minutes. We also want to shoot some additional videos and photos to add to your personalized Home for the Holiday video greeting card.

What happens once my Video/Audio event is over?

Within 10 days, a DVD with your personalized video Holiday Greeting Card (containing the video, audio, pictures and anything else we think we can add in that is appropriate) will be available for you to pick up at Villa La PAWS on Shea. Or, upon request, we will mail it to you. 

We will also edit your video down to 10 minutes or less and upload it to YouTube so all your family and friends around the world that couldn’t make the event can see how much fun you had. 

How many people can I bring to my Video/Audio Event?

A total of 20 friends and relatives (including you) may attend each session.

May we bring our pets to the Video/Audio Event?

Absolutely! We were hoping you’d ask! For their safety and comfort, please keep dogs leashed at all times, and transport cats and other species in an appropriate carrying case.

Can you guarantee that you can pull off these Video/Audio Events?

Nope!  There are simply way too many variables that could go wrong. Let’s see:

·    We are attempting to connect with people stationed thousands of miles away, potentially in a war zone

·    We are dependent on the Internet

·    We are dependent on computers… a lot of them

·    We are dependent on software… a lot of different packages

Frankly, we’re not too sure that even IBM or Microsoft would take this effort on. But we at Villa La PAWS fear nothing! We are committed to everyone having a great time with a real positive attitude!

How many pets will Villa La PAWS provide this service for?

We will be able to accommodate up to 30 dogs and 20 cats during the "Operation Home for the Holiday" period. We will create a waiting list and contact families if we have openings.

What kind of accommodations will my pets receive?

Villa La PAWS is a cage-free resort meaning we DON’T use cages for dogs. We have indoor/outdoor areas and the dogs receive 12 hours of doggie daycare and then a Slumber Party at night. Yup, they sleep together on mats, beds and couches. 

We also have webcams throughout our facilities so you can watch your fur kids online while you are traveling.

When does this part of the “Operation Home for the Holidays” program start and end?

FREE overnight and daycare will be in effect between December 22^nd - January 2^nd at 6pm 

Can I drop off earlier than December 22^nd or pickup later than January 2^nd?

Yes, but there will be a nominal charge of $20 per day per dog and $10 per day per cat.

Can I have my pet(s) groomed while they are staying with you during the “Operation Home for the Holidays” program?

Yes, but that service will charged at our regular retail price.

Are there any restrictions for my pets?

You may have a maximum of two (2) family pets in the free pet care part of the "Operation Home for the Holidays" program. That can be one or two dogs, one or two cats, or one dog and one cat.

Dog Guest Requirements:

·   All dogs must be 16 weeks of age or older. (Puppies under 16 weeks accepted on limited basis and may require additional fee).

·   All dogs six months or older must be spayed or neutered.

·   All dogs must provide written proof from their veterinarian that they are up-to-date on their Rabies, DHPP, Bordatella, Kennel Cough and Parvo vaccinations.

·   You must certify that your dog(s) are in good health and have not been ill with a communicable condition in the last 30 days. Dogs that have been ill with a communicable condition in the last 30 days will require veterinarian certification of health to be admitted or readmitted

·   All dogs must be free of any condition that could potentially jeopardize other guests, including fleas or ticks.

·   Dogs MUST pass our standard sociability evaluation test prior to securing a reservation

·   You must certify your dog(s) have never harmed or shown any aggressive or threatening behavior towards any person or dogs

·   All dogs must have a complete, up-to-date, and approved application on file to attend Villa La PAWS.

Cat Guest Requirements:

·   All cats must be 16 weeks of age or older  

·   All cats six months or older must be spayed or neutered 

·    All cats must provide written proof from their veterinarian that they are up-to-date on their FeLV (feline leukemia), FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), FVRCP (upper respiratory infections, feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus, and bordatella) and rabies vaccinations as well as having tested negative for feline AIDS and feline leukemia.

·     You must certify that your cat(s) are in good health and have not been ill with a communicable condition in the last 30 days. Cats that have been ill with a communicable condition in the last 30 days will require veterinarian certification of health to be admitted or re-admitted.